Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Fifth Bout - Dragon-Phoenix Tournament (5)
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The moment their deep blue eyes met, Mok Ri-won felt a strange sensation.
A sensation where an instant stretched out infinitely.
And a sensation as if only he and the other were left in the world.
The emotion that arose with it was something even Mok Ri-won couldn't quite define.
If he had to liken it to something, words like heat, fighting spirit, or attraction came to mind.
That uncontrollable sensation kept pounding at his heart, crying out.
-Devour him.
So it said.
'Emperor Star.'
The star of emperors.
The star of sovereigns.
And the star of blessings.
At the emergence of this new star at the opposite extreme, the star dwelling within his mind stretched languidly.
At the end of Mok Ri-won's gaze, Namgung Jincheon's brow narrowed slightly.
Then, regaining his composure, he averted his eyes from Mok Ri-won.
Only then did Mok Ri-won feel the distant sounds and sensations return.
"Young Hero Mok?"
"…Ah, no. I was just spaced out for a moment."
Mok Ri-won gave an awkward smile in response to Dang Hwa-seo's call.
As he did, he stole one last glance at Namgung Jincheon before looking away.
Dang Hwa-seo let out a hollow chuckle at the sight.
"Want to test yourself against him?"
"Hm?"
"You've got that look on your face."
Mok Ri-won touched his mouth, then realized he was smiling.
"Ah…."
So that's what it was.
"Maybe I do."
Mok Ri-won nodded in admission.
His hands were itching.
Facing someone who had reached such heights in martial arts at that young age made him want to train—no, spar.
Just imagining a bout with Namgung Jincheon made his body hard to control.
"There are some amazing people here."
"That's why it's called the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament."
The gathering of dragons and phoenixes.
Indeed, what else could it be called.
"Hm, but you know."
Mok Ri-won grinned.
Then, in a whisper too quiet for the others to hear, he murmured to Dang Hwa-seo.
"I don't think I'd lose."
His honest words, delivered so as not to offend those present.
Dang Hwa-seo widened her eyes, then burst into a smirk.
"That's just like you, Young Hero Mok."
"Little Sister, if I beat all these guys, can I claim the title of Dragon?"
"You don't need to beat them all—just prove yourself, and it's possible."
"Hm! Great!"
Mok Ri-won straightened his back and spoke with a confident smile.
"Starting with this Dragon-Phoenix Tournament, I'll challenge for the title of Chivalrous Dragon!"
That damn 'chivalrous.'
The thought made Dang Hwa-seo unwittingly smile.
Jegal San, who had been listening beside them, chuckled and said to Mok Ri-won.
"Well, as you know, brother Mok, titles don't just come as you wish. In my opinion, if you claim a dragon title, it'd be something like Jade Dragon."
"Hey! Brother Jegal, that's too much! I prefer chivalrous over jade!"
"Of course you do."
Laughter bloomed among the three.
White Phoenix Hyeun, watching from the side, felt a peculiar sentiment at suddenly being excluded.
If she had to put it into words, it was this.
How dare they talk about something else right in front of me.
'Really….'
Fun.
Yes, they had to be at this level for the conquest to be worthwhile.
Hyeun gazed straight at Mok Ri-won with a smile that felt faintly dangerous.
Mok Ri-won, catching her sharp gaze, finally remembered Hyeun and flinched.
His body instinctively shrank behind Dang Hwa-seo.
"A fine goal. Ah, I hope the brackets come out soon."
She beamed.
Her eyes curved like crescent moons.
"I, too, want to witness Young Hero Mok's sword."
A shiver ran through him.
Mok Ri-won felt goosebumps over his entire body.
"Th-that so…?"
Like a rabbit thrown alone before a beast, Mok Ri-won trembled and clutched Dang Hwa-seo's sleeve.
Hyeun felt a thrilling chill down her spine.
Naturally, anger settled on Dang Hwa-seo's face.
"The brackets will be out soon, so no need to rush."
"I was just expressing my anticipation."
"Who knows why, but I doubt Young Hero Mok will face the nun."
Dang Hwa-seo's fist clenched tight.
Jegal San let out a 'hiiik' at the bulging veins on the back of her hand.
"The nun will face me first."
"And I'll crush her to advance."
"Know the difference between confidence and arrogance."
An unyielding exchange.
Even Fist Dragon Il-un could only swallow dryly as he watched, and Hyeun added with a smile.
"Yes, that sounds fun too."
Hyeun tapped her lips with her index finger.
Then she raked her eyes over Mok Ri-won like a lick and retreated with a grin.
"Ah, then I'll be off. I need to greet the others as well."
"Take care."
Step on some shit on your way.
Dang Hwa-seo inwardly cursed as she glared at Hyeun's departing back.
"…Young Hero Mok."
"Hm…?"
"If that lustful phoenix approaches again, run—no, come to me. That woman's eyes aren't normal."
Mok Ri-won nodded frantically like a madman.
*
The banquet came to an end.
The next morning, Mok Ri-won looked at the brackets posted near the estate's main gate and exclaimed 'Oh!'
"Fourth bracket! Little Sister Dang is…."
"Third bracket."
Dang Hwa-seo replied as she scrutinized the brackets intently.
She was searching for one name—White Phoenix Hyeun, somewhere on that sheet.
After rolling her eyes busily for a moment, Dang Hwa-seo found Hyeun's name and grinned.
'Third bracket.'
Same bracket.
By the bracket order, they'd meet in the third bracket finals.
'Perfect spot.'
Crack.
A sinister sound came from Dang Hwa-seo as she cracked her knuckles.
Mok Ri-won stole a trembling glance at her, then quickly looked away.
'Hm, Little Sister really doesn't get along with White Phoenix.'
Better not poke at it.
"I'm in second bracket!"
Jegal San grinned.
Beside him, Il-un had approached at some point and smiled faintly as he spoke.
"Same bracket as me. Ah, and Immortal Dragon is in our bracket too."
Jegal San felt a chill at the somehow eerie tone and forced a smile.
"Pl-please go easy on me."
"That won't do. It's a tournament—we must give our all."
"…."
Why is this monk like this.
The thought crossed Jegal San's mind.
He had no idea.
That Il-un had already thought of dozens, hundreds of ways to shut his mouth.
"Namgung Jincheon is in first bracket."
At Dang Hwa-seo's interjection, their eyes turned to the brackets.
As she said, Namgung Jincheon was alone in first bracket, with no other dragons.
Jegal San's eyes narrowed.
"…Rigged?"
"Rigged what."
"It is. The Namgung Clan is hosting this Dragon-Phoenix Tournament."
"Namgung Jincheon doesn't need rigging. Well, if there is any, that's probably the intent."
Dang Hwa-seo's eyes narrowed.
"…They'll clear the path as much as possible, so climb as high as you can."
An utterly arrogant notion.
But one impossible to deny.
Knowing that, those present clamped their mouths shut.
Sword Dragon Namgung Jincheon was unparalleled.
Among this tournament's later generation, no one across the righteous sects could match him.
Even if the brackets were rigged, they had no choice but to lean on that arrogance.
"Hm… Is he really that great?"
Mok Ri-won scratched his cheek as he watched the heavy mood among the others.
'Doesn't seem unbeatable.'
His internal energy was certainly superior, but spars weren't just about raw power—they were about clashing swords to determine superiority.
From a technique perspective, it wasn't hopeless, or so he thought.
Of course, he didn't fully know his sword yet, so it was premature, but Mok Ri-won was confident.
'Not as good as Spear Star Sword.'
Obviously, Namgung Jincheon fell far short of the transcendent Spear Star Sword.
So he could make up for any internal energy gap with swordsmanship.
"…With you, Young Hero Mok, it might be a good fight at least."
Dang Hwa-seo smiled wryly, voicing her inner worry.
'Hope he doesn't get too disheartened.'
Most who hadn't seen Namgung Jincheon's prowess firsthand thought like Mok Ri-won.
Since it's not purely internal energy, I can compete.
'…But that's exactly why you can't win.'
Sword Dragon Namgung Jincheon.
His true nature lay not in pinnacle-level internal energy, but in the sword itself.
*
Four days later.
The Dragon-Phoenix Tournament began.
"Waaaaaaaaah!!!"
Fierce cheers pounded the eardrums.
The heat from the gathered crowd settled on the skin.
Mok Ri-won grinned widely, eyes sparkling at the spectacle.
"So many people!"
"Yes, to the point where I'm glad we're participants."
Dang Hwa-seo sat in her relatively spacious participant seat and caught her breath.
Aside from the northern participant benches at the arena, the other three sides were packed so tight people rubbed shoulders while cheering.
They were either prelim dropouts or spectators from afar come to watch.
"Total 64 entrants. Each bracket does 16 matches, then bracket winners advance to the final four."
"Hm! Good! Brother Jegal and Little Sister are in different brackets, so we'll all reach the finals!"
"I can't speak for Jegal, but… yes, I'm definitely advancing to the final four."
I'll tear White Phoenix apart and climb.
With that thought, Dang Hwa-seo's eyes sharpened.
[Then, let the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament's first match begin!]
Amidst it, a voice amplified by internal energy filled the arena.
The cheers and chaos swelled naturally.
In the midst, Dang Hwa-seo said.
"Watch closely."
Two men ascended the arena.
[First, from Hubei, Flash Blade Yang Heo!]
A shabby, dirty man in worn clothes mounted the stage with a saber at his waist.
A ronin from Hubei who had shone in the prelims.
And opposite him.
[His opponent, a top favorite for this tournament! The dragon among dragons, called the future of the White Dao martial world!]
A sharp-featured handsome man with striking deep blue eyes ascended with sword in hand.
With his appearance, the arena's atmosphere reached a fever pitch.
[Sword Dragon Namgung Jincheon!]
“Waaaaaaaaah!!!"
Mok Ri-won took it all in.
'That's the Next Greatest Under Heaven.'
The thought of finally witnessing his sword filled him with a strange tension.
Clench.
Mok Ri-won's fist balled tight.
[Then, begin!]
The announcer raised his hand high.
And.
Chaaeng-!
Victory was decided in one exchange.
*
Overwhelming.
And heavy.
That was Mok Ri-won's assessment of Namgung Jincheon's sword.
Not about the difference in their internal energies.
Nor the disparity in reputations.
Simply from the sword alone.
At the match's start, Yang Heo's sword shot out like a beam of light, only to be cleaved in two by Namgung Jincheon's descending blade—not even particularly fast.
Other spectators were busy cheering the dominant win, but those with some attainment would have felt the wall in that single exchange.
The world called Namgung's sword the Emperor's blade.
A sword reigning over the martial world's skies.
Namgung Jincheon's sword fit that description perfectly, focused on sheer pressure.
'What if it were me….'
Mok Ri-won closed his eyes.
And imagined.
Himself unleashing the same sword.
'…I couldn't.'
No— he could only imitate it at best.
Not a difference in talent, but in the martial arts learned and mastered.
Star-Link Divine Art and Meteor Seven Swords were arts centered on ceaseless flow.
Even forcing internal energy for momentary destructive power wasn't proper use.
He acknowledged it.
Namgung's sword was strong.
But.
'Does that mean Star-Link falls short?'
The question resurfaced.
And Mok Ri-won was certain.
'Absolutely not.'
Star-Link was strong.
He, and Mok Seon-o's teachings, would not crumble before Namgung's sword.
[Now, fourth bracket match begin!]
The voice boomed by the ear.
Mok Ri-won slyly opened his eyes and looked ahead.
"I'll be going."
"We'll cheer for you."
Mok Ri-won stepped forward.
And stood upon the arena.
[Now, a new rising star appears! A young master daring to challenge the stagnant hierarchy of the later generation! The righteous warrior who single-handedly annihilated Black Dao forces at Suyang County in Gangseo!]
His name echoed across the arena.
[Ink Sword Mok Ri-won-!]
“Waaaaaaaaah!!!"
“Kyaaaaaaa!!!"
Cheers pierced his ears.
The noise swelled until his whole body vibrated.
Yet Mok Ri-won merely gazed ahead with a calm heart.
Continuing his thoughts.
'I want to spar.'
To measure himself against Namgung Jincheon.
Any of his shortcomings.
To recognize and overcome them, he instinctively knew a bout with him was necessary.
[Opponent, eldest son of the Jo Clan, Jo Cheol!]
Mok Ri-won looked at his foe.
A young man glaring at him with tension writ on his face.
'Sorry.'
Mok Ri-won apologized in advance.
For the young warrior, barely entering first-rate mid, was no longer in his sights.
Sring.
His gaze was fixed higher.
[Begin-!]
Mok Ri-won would merely use him.
Chaaeng-!
At the match's start, Jo Cheol's sword shattered in two.
Half the blade soared high.
Silence descended on the arena.
"…."
Even decayed warriors as they were.
Everyone there grasped the meaning in that single move.
The exact technique Namgung Jincheon had used to open the festival.
The meaning in overwhelming the foe with a heavy sword laden with power.
'A challenge.'
This was a newcomer throwing down the gauntlet to the throne.
Mok Ri-won's gaze turned to Namgung Jincheon.
Namgung Jincheon stared back with eyes far wider than before.
“Waaaaaaaaah!!!"
Cheers erupted anew.
The loudest of the day.